Steam-engine.



Patented Sept. I8, |900. F. H. & F. 0. BALL.

STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 30. 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

EN .0 uw. -U. RN* l ...Lw/erw EY 7% ze vm, ATTE RNEY 'Patented Sept. I8, |900.

F. H. & F. o. BALL.

STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 30, 1900.,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Mcdel.)

mln.

INVENT DRS ZM/y@ VVIINESSEE 7 ATTDRNf-:Y

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Nrrnn STATES VPATENT OFFICE..

FRANK H. BALL AND FREDERICK O. BALL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

STEAM-ENGINE.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,200, dated September 18, 1900.

Application iiled January 30, 1900. Serial No. 3,351. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

IBe it known that we, FRANK H. BALL and FREDERCK O. BALL, citizens of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Somerset and State ot' New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to steam-engines; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

More particularly the invention relates to compound engines, and is especially adapted to compound engines thecylinders of which are set side by side and which operate upon a common cross-head. 'lhis style of compound engine we have termed a duplex compound engine. f

'lhe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows: Y

Figure l showsa broken section, the section through the valve and steam-chest being on the line l l inFig. 3. Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 2 2 in Figs. l and 3. Fig. 3' shows an elevation of the cylinder and crosshead, the steam-chest cover being removed, exposing the valve. Fig. 4 shows the pressure-plates for the valve.

A marks the high-pressure cylinder; B, the low-pressure cylinder; C, the steam-chest; D', the low-pressure piston; D2 and Dsfthe hig-h and low pressure piston-rods, respec? tively, and D4 the cross-head'. The pistonrods D2 and D3 are attached to the same crosshead D4, and the pistonsof the two cylinders operate in unison. The vcylinders are arranged side by side in cross compound relation.- rlhe steam-chest is arranged withthe removable Wall c and the cover c'.

Arranged in the valve-surfaces of the steamchest are the ports a, which lead from the.

steam admission, ports a a', leadingto the high-pressure cylinder, ports d2 d2, leading to the low-pressure cylinder, and ports a3 a2,\ leading to the iinal exhaust. Steam enters through the opening A and moves through the passage A2, which extends around the 4cylinder A to the port a.

Opposite the ports leading to the high-pressure cylinder and the inlet-ports is the pressure-plate E,'Which is arranged on the parallel bars E2 E2, and opposite the ports cont-rolling the admission of the exhaust-steam 1o and from the low-pressure cylinder are the pressu'replates E', which are arranged on parallel barsE2.

The single valve E operates all ports. The portion F controls the high-pressure ports and the portion F2 controls the low-pressure ports. Arranged in the part F is the chamberf, which is constantly in communication u The pressure-plaie E with the inlet-porto. has an opening e opposite the inlet'port a, the purpose of which is to balance the valve. The cross-barsf2 at the ends of the cham berf pass over the ports a', bringing the chamber finto'` and out of communication alternately with the ports a. During the time the said chamber is out ofcomrnunication with said ports and when the valve is at one end of its travel the port out of communication with the chamber f is opened tothe steam-chest, so that the steam from the high-pressure cylinder is eX hausting into` the steam-chestL rlhe low-pressure parts ot' the valve comvprise the chamhersf, the inner side of said chambers being formed by the barsfs. These bars f3 are so arranged relatively to the ports a2 as to pass over said ports in the traverse ol" the valve. The chamber f is so arranged relatively to the port d3 as yto be 4kept conf cation'with the port a2an exhaust from the low-pressure cylinder is permitted, and whenv l the bar f2 passes beyond the port a2 stream is` admitted from the steam-chest to the lowpressure cylinder. Opposite theports o. a2 a2 are arranged the depressions or balance-,cavities e" e2 e3, the purpose of which is well una.

derstood. l Y

In the operation of the engine steam is admitted by the inlet A through the port a. It

then passes frm the chamber f through the port d', in communication therewith, tor one end of the high-pressure cylinder.` At the ICO,

same time the opposite port a is opened to the steam-chestfso that the exhaust end of the high-pressure cylinder is in communication with the steam-chest. The port a2 to- Ward the end of the high-pressure cylinder taking steam is also uncovered by the barfs, so that the exhaust from the high-pressure cylinder which is stored in the steam-chest passes to the low-pressure cylinder. At the same time the chamber f at the opposite end of the cylinder is in communication with both the ports a2 d3, 4thus effecting the exhaust from the loW- pressure cylinder. It will be noted, therefore, that the steam-chest forms a receiver and that the steam passing through the steam-chest passes from the highpressure cylinder by a Way exterior to the valve to the opposite end of the low-pressure cylinder.

What we claim as new is- 1. In a compound engine, the combination of the high and 10W pressure cylinders arranged in cross compound relation; doubleacting piston mechanism therefor; a common cross head for said piston mechanism; a steam-chest and a single valve for controlling the flow of steam to and from said high and low pressure cylinders, said valve being arranged to admit steam to the high-pressure cylinder and to exhaust steam from the highpressure cylinder into the'steam-chest and to admit steam from the steam-chest to the lowpressure cylinder.

2. In a compound engine, the combination of the high'and low pressure cylinders arranged in cross compound relation; doubleacting piston mechanism therefor; a common cross-head for said piston mechanism; and a valve comprising a high-pressure part and a low-pressure part, the high-pressure part comprising the chamber, f, and the lowpressure part comprising the chambers, f', f', said chambers and their Walls being so arranged relatively to the ports as to admit steam through the chamber, f, to the highpressure cylinder, exhaust steam to the steam-chest, and admit steam to the low-pressure cylinder. and exhaust steam through the chamber, f'.

3. In a compound engine, the combination of the high and low pressure cylinders; piston mechanism therefor; a common crosshead for said piston mechanism; a valve comprising a high-pressure part and a lowpressure part, the high-pressure part comprising the chamber, f, and the low-pressure part comprising the chambers, f', f', said chambers and their walls being so arranged relatively 'ro-the ports as to admit steam through the chamber, f, to the high-pressure cylinder, exhaust steam to the steam-chest, admit steam to the low-pressure cylinder and exhaust steam through the chamber, f'/,- and the pressure-plates, E and E, arranged over the valve and forming the closure for the chambers, f, f.

4. In a compound engine, the combination of the cylinders, A and B; piston mechanism therefor; acommon cross-head attached to the said piston mechanism; steam-chest C, having in its valve-surface the port, CL, eX- tending from the steam-inlet, the ports a', ct', leading to the high-pressure cylinder, the ports, d2, a2, leading to the low-pressure cylinder, and the ports, CL3, CL3, leading to the final exhaust; the valve F, comprising the high-pressure part, F, and the low-pressure part, F2; the high-pressure part comprising the chambers, f, with the Walls, f2, f2, the 10W-pressure part comprising the chambers, f', and the inside walls, f3, said chambers and Walls being arranged relatively to the several ports as described; and the pressureplates, E, and E.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK II. BALL. v FREDERICK O. BALL.

Witnesses:

HOWARD I. BRAMPTON, ROBT. T. BRAMPTON. 

